Mike Tyson is the Greatest

[Mintcar923]

I'd say it was Tyson and JC Chavez that really got me into boxing. I'll never forget it. It was the spring of '88 when I went hardcore at age 12. I saw Tyson fight Holmes and Tubbs previous to that. But, I'd say it was Chavez-Aguilar and all the Tyson-Spinks hype that really nailed in the interest for me. I asked my neighbor to lend me his Tyson fights on VHS and I became even more interested in Mike cause he was so entertaining! I'd say he may've even been the best boxer ever at that time cause he had a great team in Rooney/Lott...

[mehoe]

I remember watching boxing at a very young age. I was the Spinks fight at my uncles and I had to be around 5 or 6 at the time. Even then I already knew about Tyson, but what I saw just blew my mind. Ever since then I've been a huge boxing fan till this day. H*ll I even remember being like 8 or 9 and collecting boxing cards (I found some the other day in my shed.) After Tyson Sweat Pea and Holyfield was what I grew up on.

[MasterODisaster]

While I admit as a young teen (13) I loved watching prime Tyson demolish people, BUT it was a show called "Superbouts" that made me fall i love with the sport and I am soooo thankful for that show as it made me familiar with some of the greatest of all time! I got to see Ali, Norton, Foreman, Joe Frazier, Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran, , etc, etc... I am thankful that it helped me fall in love with boxing watching these legends and seeing some of the old school fighting greats before seeing what boxing slowly became.

I then went on to enjoy Gatti, Ward, RJJ, Paez, MAB (always loved him after beating the tar out of Naz), Morales, and many others. After watching some of the toughest guys on "Superbouts" I think it made me tend to like fighters with huge heart. I still look for those types of fighters to support, but sadly they seem to be few and far between these days.

[Mike Tyson77]

And Tyson loved and respected the old time fighters. Tyson is in the same class as a Jack Dempsey,Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis....and those are damn great names to be associated with.

[fight_professor]

I grew up in a boxing mad family. Ali tapes were always on, so it Ali who caught my attention first. But 'live', yes, Tyson captivated me at a young age. Grew up watching that bre and love him like family.

[Marcos Avellan]

Tyson was the man!

[them_apples]

Tyson was the most exciting thing to EVER come into boxing. There is no fighter in Boxing or MMA history that knocked people out the way Tyson did. He was great until his mindset changed in 1988. The Spinks fight was him at his best and Kevin Rooney was the best trainer for Tyson's style. All people now days remember is the Tyson that was a raging idiot out of control, that's why he gets disrespected a lot. But, us that watched him from the beginning, know there's been nothing like him since and even before.

You know what sucks about this boxing history forum? There are too many posters that don't know shiiit about boxing history.

Duran, but he was a LW. He demod enough people in the same violent fashion but being a small guy doesnt get the same praise.

[Mintcar923]

Forgot about Superbouts! Thats where I got to see Hearns-Hagler for the first time. I'd punch my heavy bag until my tongue was hanging out after the inspiration of that fight!! Also, there was USA fights, ABC Wide World of Sports Boxing, and MSG Boxing.. Perhaps even some others that I'm not remembering. It really makes me a bit sad to see how far the sport has sunk.

[Xyei]

Tyson is also the reason I liked boxing. He seemed like an invincible god to me back then. I was shocked to learn that he lost his title to Buster Douglass. He electrified the division and blasted all of those tomato cans out. His era wasn't the strongest and he had his flaws but I sure do enjoy a prime Mike Tyson.

[Mintcar923]

Tyson is also the reason I liked boxing. He seemed like an invincible god to me back then. I was shocked to learn that he lost his title to Buster Douglass. He electrified the division and blasted all of those tomato cans out. His era wasn't the strongest and he had his flaws but I sure do enjoy a prime Mike Tyson.

Seeing him get knocked down by Douglas was about the equivalent to witnessing a miracle! Although, it was a miracle I never did wanna see. I really did not think he'd truly be capable of losing. Although, I thought if anyone had a chance it was a great puncher like a Foreman. I never thought he'd ever have trouble with a boxer type.